Busy figures covered the City Wall of Breeze City. Cement coated the old brickwork, and the wall, now about ten meters high, stood roughly a meter taller than it had two months ago. Only cement could have raised it so quickly. Breeze City held more than 300,000 people; raising its walls by one meter was enough work to raise Star-Moon Bay's by twenty.
Before Deepwinter, Breeze City's walls should reach twelve meters.
Annan did not return to Star-Moon Bay. He had been invited to stay with the Olmedo Family. Olmedo still had plenty of family members, but they were only Cousins.
As the foremost of Breeze City's Old Nobility, the Olmedo Family should not have fallen on hard times like the Reeves family.
"Did your father do this too?" Annan asked curiously.
Olmedo's smile vanished. "...Stay as long as you like. I have Government Affairs to handle."
Watching Olmedo walk away, Annan asked Tina, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Young Master Annan, you're just not very good at dealing with girls yet," Tina said.
Annan did not think so. Lady Fine Wine, Lady Deepwinter, and Princess Sails had all praised him highly. Maybe Olmedo was simply in a bad mood?
Annan followed her to the corridor outside the study. A maid was about to enter with a tray of pastries. "I'll take that." Annan reached for the tray, but the maid hesitated, unsure what to do.
"Give it to him."
Tina opened the door and let Annan carry the tray inside.
"I'm not angry." Olmedo merely glanced up.
"I know. The City Lord of Breeze City wouldn't get angry that easily."
"...Now I really am a little angry." The fact that Olmedo did not throw Annan out showed that she truly considered him a friend.
Annan had nothing to do,